(c) Kim V. Goldsmith, 2009, Little River Dreaming 02, digital photographAll has been quiet on the blog front this past month as the new media works that are a part of this project have started to take shape. More video interviews have been conducted and the edited versions will be available for viewing on the blog in coming weeks.
Two videos have now been produced as part of the project, one of which is focused very much on water use in the Central West, particularly in Dubbo. Some interesting stats came to light during my research for this work:
- On 18 March, Dubbo residential water usage was 497 litres/person/day. This equates to about 3.3 bathtubs of water per person (based on an average 150 litre bathtub).
- The Central West catchment target for water use per person is 155 litres per person - a little more than 1 bathtub per person). This is based on high level water restrictions, however, it raises some interesting questions about our capabilities under these restrictions.
- On 29 March the water usage in Dubbo was 713 litres/ person/day (4.75 bathtubs)...obviously not a water restriction in sight in this town.
At the Western Plains Cultural Centre hosted public forum, "Just Add Water", held in Dubbo on 26 February, Dubbo's relationship with water was explored through the eyes a Dubbo City Council representative. The following is a transcript of some of what was said on the night:
Dubbo values water very highly...I think we grow up expecting a reliable water supply in Dubbo. People like their green lawns; people enjoy seeing green playing fields...they (people outside of Dubbo) don't begrudge Dubbo having access to water and using it keep our town green...Dubbo uses about 1 gigalitre of water every year. The average flow in the Murray (River) is nearly 5,000 GL, so even if Dubbo was to reduce its usage by half and if we only used half a gigalitre instead of a gigalitre, that would be 0.01% of the flow in the Murray. What effect is 0.01% going to have on whether Lake Alexandrina has water in it or not?
Does Dubbo exist in a green bubble - isolated from its responsibilities within the wider catchment? How much are residents really prepared to pay to maintain their European style gardens in this semi-arid environment?
But people in other towns DO begrudge our water use. They don't know or understand the stats. And even if what we are using is a fraction of the flow in the Murray-Darling system, does that mean we don't need to educate our children about the environment and that it's OK to have a lush green lawn and really thirsty garden in the middle of a drought? I don't think Council's message is the right one to be sending this community.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your contribution Donna!I agree with you. Having lived outside of Dubbo for the majority of my life, I know that the surrounding region is often amazed and even angered by the waste of water in Dubbo. Our children learn from us, they value what we value. What hope have they got when the resources for their future are being squandered by the current generation? We need a big attitude shift, not just this tweeking that is currently occuring, if we are to turn things around to a point where our future is sustainable.
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